Maternal behaviour in mares

The strength of mare-foal bonding can be measured through quantification of behaviors such as the frequency and duration of nursing bouts, mutual grooming, elements of normal maternal aggression and the prevalence of activities maintaining the proximity between mare and foal. Most of foalings take place at night. Shortly after parturition olfaction and taste, coupled with the hormonal and physical events, result in the identification of the foal by its dam. The mare's attachment to her neonate is formed within the first few hours after delivery, while the formation of a bond linking the foal to its dam takes place after a few days. Mares Often help their newborns to find the udder; however, they usually terminate nursing bouts, which confirm the parent-offspring conflict theory. Horses have been classified as "followers"; in the first days after foaling the dam teaches her neonate the following response by rejection behavior. Changes in mare's behavior significantly affect the form and frequency of social interaction between the dam and the other members of a group. Moderate aggression directed towards her own foal, other horses and humans is a part of normal maternal behavior.